Close to home
Gibbs walked into the bullpen and announced that dinner was off. They had a new case and the crime scene was several hours away. He then walked over to Kate. "Are you going to be able to come? We really need you there." Gibbs said. "Yeah, it's just…" Kate trailed off. Tony came over to her desk. "It's just what?" Gibbs asked. "It's just that since Aidan was born the longest Kate has been away from him is a couple of hours." Tony said. "Well if you don't think you can go…" Gibbs began. "No I'll go. I just have to call my sister to see if she can watch Aidan." Kate replied. "Good, be back here in two hours." Gibbs said as he walked off. Tony just looked at Kate. "What?" Kate asked. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" Tony asked her. "No, but I've got to do this sometime." She replied. "Are you sure Aidan is ready for this?" Tony asked. "I don't know. I mean it's going to happen sooner or later." Kate said. "Okay, look let's make a deal, if it looks like we're going to be gone more than two nights one of us comes home to Aidan. Do we have a deal?" Tony asked. "It's a deal." Kate replied.
An hour later they dropped Aidan off at Sarah's house. "When are you coming back Mommy?" Aidan asked. "Aidan we've been through this I'm not sure it could be tomorrow or maybe the next day. I won't be gone long though." Kate promised. Aidan started crying and Tony picked him up. "Hey buddy, don't cry. We'll be back before you know it." Tony assured him. "Don't go." Aidan said. "We have to sweetie but like your Daddy said we'll be back before you know it." Kate said. "I love you Mommy." Aidan said. "I love you too, Aidan." Kate said as she headed out the door. "I love you Daddy." Aidan said as Tony put him down. "I love you too." Tony said and with that Tony and Kate left. Even though they would be back in a few days leaving Aidan was difficult.
In the car on the way to the crime scene Gibbs and McGee were talking about Addison when they noticed that Tony and Kate were rather quiet. "Why are you two so quiet?" Gibbs asked. "It's nothing." Kate said. Tony just held her hand he new exactly what was on her mind. They both missed Aidan already and he knew it would be a long couple of days. At the scene Gibbs got all the details of what happened. Tony then went over to him. "So what's the story boss?" Tony asked. "Petty Officer Jane Thompson went missing with her 4 year old daughter Ella. All evidence points to them being kidnapped. McGee I want photos. Tony, Kate I want you two to interview the husband." Gibbs said as he went back over to talk to the local police.
Tony and Kate approached Jim Thompson. "Mr. Thompson I'm Special Agent Tony Dinozzo and this is Special Agent Kate Dinozzo, we're with NCIS we have a few questions for you." Tony said. "You two married?" Jim Thompson asked. "Yes, now for our questions. When was the last time you saw your wife and daughter?" Kate asked. "This morning before I went to work, like every morning Ella was begging me not to leave but today she acted different, it's like she knew something was going to happen. Ella and Jane were going to spend the day together Jane had the day off." Jim replied. "Do you have any idea who would want to harm your wife and daughter?" Tony asked. "No and all that was left was a note that said that I would never see them again and the window on the door was broken." Jim replied. "Can you think of anything else that might help us find them?" Kate asked. "No, this is all my fault." Jim said. "Why do you say that?" Tony asked. "Jane and I had a big fight and had I taken the day off like Jane wanted me to this would have never happened. Please find them." Jim pleaded. "We'll do everything we can." Kate replied as her and Tony walked away.
"What did you guys find out?" Gibbs asked Tony and Kate. "That he blames himself and he had a fight with his wife before it happened." Tony said. "McGee what did you find?" Gibbs asked. "The note, the handwriting looks like his wife's." McGee replied. "How do you know that?" Tony asked. "I found a grocery list and compared it." McGee replied. "Send them both to Abby." Gibbs said. "Gibbs, could it be possibly that Jane Thompson faked her and Ella's kidnapping?" Kate asked. "It's possible. Kate, you and Tony interview the other people in their lives in the morning. There's nothing else we can do tonight. Go back to the hotel and get some rest." Gibbs said. As Tony and Kate were walking to the car Tony stopped her. "I hope to God you're wrong Kate." Tony said. "Why's that?" Kate asked. "Because Kate, if you're right this case is going to hit Gibbs close to home." Tony replied. "Well then let's hope I'm wrong." Kate replied as they got into the car and headed to the hotel.